Lock nut



Sept. 19, 1967 M. M. MEISYEL LOCK NOT 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTOR mic/7 as I77. me/s'e ATTORNEY M. M. MEISEL Sept. 19 1967 LOCK NUT 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTOR f77l'chqe/ I77. mel'sel' ATTORNEY M. M. MEISEL LOCK NUT Sept. 19, 1967 8 *SheecS-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTOR 7779 /se [77/chae/ 777 ATTORNEY p 1957 M. M. MEISEL 3,342,233

LOCK NUT Filed June 25, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR mfc/me/ m. me/se/ 1' ATTORNEY p 1967 M. M. MEIS'EL 3,342,233

LOCK NUT Filed June 25, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I a I all INVENTOR /77/ c/icze/ 777. 777a z se/ v I ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1967 M. M. MEISEIL LOCK NUT I 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 25, 1965 Flg, 53.

I INVENTOR )77/c/1c1e/ m. mel-Se/ ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1967 M. M. MEISEL 3,342,233

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTOR hae/ )77. 777e/se/ Sept..19, 1967 M. M. MEISEL I 3,342,233

LOCK NUT Filed June 25, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR mIc/vae/ 777. me! se/ BY 2 Q a ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,342,233 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 3,342,233 LOCK NUT Michael M. Meisel, 5021 Palmer Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21215 Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 466,929 12 Claims. (Cl. 151-21) The present invention relates to a self-locking nut and in particular to one that is formed in a single unit.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a threaded nut of this character that will be automatically locked to a threaded bolt, or stud when the nut has been tightened upon the same by a predetermined rotating stress applied to the nut by a wrench, or nut rotating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical and practical method in constructing the nut.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selflocking nut that may in general be operated by most any type of conventional wrench, or nut tightening means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nut locking means that will not destroy the thread on the bolt, or stud upon which the nut is being locked.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lock nut having locking segments, when in locked position, that may be somewhat relieved of their locking efiect or pressure to the threads of a bolt or the like to which they may be threadably engaged by applying a normal initial unscrewing wrenching action thereto for purposes of making it easier to remove the nut and without harm to the threads.

Another object of the present lock nut invention is to provide the same with positioning means for the wrench whereby when a wrench is applied to the nut the jaws of the wrench will be eifectively positioned in relation to the leading upper portion or area of the spiral or angular corner edge of the locking segment of the nut without depending on the operator of the wrench to maintain this most etfective position of the wrench jaws in relation to the nut locking segments of the nut whereby maximum locking eflect of the segments take place.

Still another object of the present lock nut invention is to provide means in combination with the nut locking segments for predetermining the wrench resistance on the part of the locking segments before being bent or ruptured to a locking position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock nut and method of making same from a metal bar having a predetermined spiral twist with a plurality of substantially flat sides and which may be hexagon, square or polyhedrous in cross section.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lock nut made from a spiral hexagon bar having a longitudinal opening therethrough for purposes of reducing the number of operations in the making of a nut.

A similar object of the invention is to provide a lock nut made from a hexagon bar having a longitudinal opening therein for purposes of reducing manufacturing operations.

While several objects of the invention have been pointed out, other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed and the same consists in its novel construction and mode of operation shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:

FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically a length of hexagon bar stock having substantially flat sides having a twist or spiral so that the sides and edges are of spiral form.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of a section A taken from the bar of stock shown in FIGURE 1 from which the nut is made and in which the top of the nut is taken along line b-b of FIGURE 1 and in which the bottom is taken along line bb' of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one form of the finished nut made from section A of stock shown in FIGURE 1, showing correspondingly opposite radial vertical slot sin the top portion thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of FIG- URE 6 showing the nut threaded throughout its entire length.

FIGURE 8 is a view in elevation of the nut showing the nut positioned on a threaded bolt or stud in locked position as to one of the slotted sections.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the same before being attached to the threaded bolt.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a modification of the nut, in that, the locking feature of the nut is somewhat divided from the base of the nut and constructed to operate under less pressure from the tightening means than shown in the FIGURES 5 to 9.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the form shown in FIG- URE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a view in elevation of still another form of the locking nut.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIGURE 13 of the form of nut shown in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of still another form of nut showing two radial vertical slots extending through each of the flat side surfaces of the nut.

FIGURE 16 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 17 is a plan view of the nut illustrating the manner in which an open end wrench engages the edges of the spiral fiat sides.

FIGURE 18 is a view in elevation of a still further modification of the nut showing parallel slots cut through each of the partially spiral flat sides of the nut in which the parallel slots are perpendicular to the outer fiat side surfaces.

FIGURE 19 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 20 is a view in elevation of still another modified form of nut showing extra wide radial vertical slots and the lower corners of the flat sides having blunted edges.

FIGURE 21 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 22 is a view in elevation of a further modified form of the invention showing what is known as a high type of nut having opposite parallel slots in which the slots are parallel with the diameter extending through the corners of the flat sides and in which the portion below the slotted portion is of circular form.

FIGURE 23 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary sectional view in eleva tion illustrating the locking of the nut when engaging a bolt or stud on which the crest of the threads have been partially removed for purposes of increasing the locking effect of the nut.

FIGURE 25 is an elevational view of a further modification of the nut in which the spiral edges of the flat sides of the nut are arcuate throughout their length.

FIGURE 26 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 27 is an elevational view of still another form of the nut in which the upper portion of the edges of the flat surfaces are of arcuate and spiral form, with the lower portions of the edges being straight and vertical and substantially parallel with the vertical slots.

FIGURE 28 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 29 is a view in elevation of still another form of the slotted nut, showing the side walls of the nut being somewhat concave when the nut is formed from a spiral bar in which the bar was first formed with straight sides and edges and subsequently twisted or spiraled mechanically.

FIGURE 30 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 31 is a modified form of the nut shown in FIGURE 29 in which the lateral edg s adjacent the corners are formed into flat narrow panels with the faces of the nut between these panels being somewhat concave and below the plane of the panels.

FIGURE 32 is a plan view of the same showing some of its outline in dotted lines.

FIGURE 33 is a view similar to that shown in FIG- URE 32 with the dotted lines left out for better illustrating the panels and concavities of the nut faces.

FIGURE 34 is a view in elevation showing the selflocking nut threaded upon a flat sided bolt or stud, showing two opposite segments of the nut in locked position.

FIGURE 35 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 36 is a fragmentary elevational view of the flat side of the bolt or stud shown in FIGURES 34 and 35.

FIGURE 37 is a view in elevation of a piece of hexagon spirally extruded stock having substantially fiat walls or faces from which certain of the nuts may be formed.

FIGURE 38 is a sectional view taken on line 38-38 of FIGURE 37.

FIGURE 39 is a view in elevation of a straight hexagon bar which may be either rolled or extruded having its side walls or faces slightly convex, and from which certain of the nuts of the invention may be made, after the bar has been twisted.

FIGURE 40 is a sectional view of the convex walled bar taken on the line 40-40 of FIGURE 39.

FIGURE 41 is a view in elevation of a twisted hexagon bar made from an originally straight hexagon bar having straight side walls or flat faces, similar to those shown. in FIGURE 38, and which has been subsequently twisted or spiraled by mechanical operation and from which certain of the nuts may be made.

FIGURE 42 is a sectional view taken on the line 42 42 of FIGURE 41, illustrating the resultant concave form of the spiral side walls or faces when a straight formed bar having fiat side faces or walls is subsequently spiraled or twisted.

FIGURE 43 is a fragmentary elevational view of the threaded end of a bolt showing the crests of certain areas of the bolt threads having been removed.

FIGURE 44 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 45 is an elevational view of a hexagon bar having a spiral twist and a longitudinal opening throughout its length.

FIGURE 46 is an elevational view of a nut blank taken from the bar of FIGURE 45 in a manner as described in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 47 is a plan View thereof.

FIGURE 48 is an elevational view of the finished lock nut made from the bar of FIGURE 45 after being tapped and slotted.

FIGURE 49 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 50 is an elevational view of a straight nontwisted hexagon metal bar having a longitudinal center opening throughout its length.

FIGURE 51 is a side elevational view of a nut blank taken from the hexagon bar of FIGURE 50 in a manner as described in FIGURE 3 before being tapped.

FIGURE 52 is a plan view thereof.

FIGURE 53 is a side elevational view of the finished nut made from the bar of FIGURE 50 after being tapped.

FIGURE 54 is a plan view thereof.

FIGURE 55 is a side elevational view of still another form of my spiral or angular cornered edge nut showing an under-cut or valley formed in the corner edges of the nut.

FIGURE 56 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 57 is an enl-agred fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the nut with the plane of the section taken on a line intersecting the undercut or valley portion of the corner edge of the nut.

FIGURE 5 8 is an other form or modification of my invention showing my improved form of nut with its spiralled or angular cornered edges terminating in a circular flange or ring structure formed at the base or bottom of the nut.

FIGURE 59 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURE 60 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 60-60 of FIGURE 61 looking in the direction of the arrows as indicated.

FIGURE 61 is a plan view of my improved form of bottom flanged nut showing the same in engaged position with the jaws of an open end wrench with the handle of the wrench being shown as partly broken away.

In referring to the drawings like character references are used to point out like and similar parts throughout the several views.

In general the nuts may be formed in any well known manner. One way of forming nuts is, to cut them from a solid piece of stock. This is usually a very simple operation on a nut forming machine. The outer shape of the stock from which the nuts are formed is generally square, hexagon, octagon or other convenient shape, however, most nuts are either square, hexagon, or octagon.

In manufacturing these nuts, particularly the forms shown in FIGURES 1 to 17, the stock from which the nuts are made is either twisted after it has been rolled with straight parallel sides, or spirally extruded. The nut N when cut from the spiral bar is provided with substantially fiat spiral outer side surfaces or faces 1 having spiral edges 1. The amount of spiral in the nut is of approximately 6 degrees to a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the nut.

For the present purpose the reference to flat side walls include not only those in a substantially flat plane but also those side walls or faces that are either slightly convexed or concaved.

Referring first to FIGURES l to 9, the nut N is provided with a body portion which has been punched or bored with a proper size hole or bore 5 and tapped as shown at 6.

The body portion of the nut is provided with a corn tinuous, substantially circular solid lower section 2 and a verticaly slotted upper section 2'. The slots designated by the numeral 4 are normally open at the top of the nut and extend outwardly from the inner threaded bore to the outer surface of the nut, and to a depth which is substantially half the height of the nut. The threads are preferably cut uniform throughout the entire length of the nut, which also includes the slotted area.

In FIGURE 9, the nut is shown threadedly engaged with a threaded bolt 9 in which the bolt is secured to a supporting surface 11. The nut is run downwardly on the bolt thread until it engages the supporting surface, at which point its self-locking feature is put into operation by wrenching, which will be referred to later in describing the locking operation.

The form of the nut shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 is of substantially the same form as that thown in FIG- URE 2 and the function and operation of the segments 2c are the same in FIGURE 8 with the exception of the addition of a groove 13 which is cut circumferentially about the outer surface or waist of the nut body portion between the lower and upper sections 2 and 2' re spectively. This groove is located adjacent the lower ends of the slots 4, or about the waist of the nut. While the groove is illustrated as being of a U shaped angular circular slot, it may also take other forms than that illustrated such as being wider, deeper or V shaped, etc. and is for the purpose of weakening the locking segments of the nut by removing part of the stock about the waist of the nut and the bottom of the segments to allow the locking segments portions 2c of the nut body lying between the slots 4 to be moved to locked position on the bolt with less wrenching torque and effort. These locking segments 2c have the same or similar locking function as shown in various views of the drawings.

It will also be noted in FIGURE that the upper corners 2a of the nut as identified with the upper portion 2' are substantially angular or spiral and at an angle of approximately 6 from the vertical as shown, whereas the lower corners 2b are vertical and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the nut, thus having the lower corners 2b formed on a vertical line as shown provides relief and clearance for the ready and free engagement of the usual snug fitting type of box wrench. Where the spiral or angular corners of the nut run uninterrupted for the full height of the nut they tend to cause the usual snug fitting design of box wrench to somewhat bind when placed in wrenching engagement with the full spiral or angular cornered nut of the present invention. However, it should be fully understood that the full length spiral or angular nut corners do not defeat the use of box type wrenches when applied to the various forms of spiral cornered lock nuts of the present invention.

In FIGURES 12 to 14 the nut is formed very similar to that shown and described for FIGURES l to 9, however, in this form a groove 17 is cut on the inner side of the threaded opening concentric with the axis of the bore similar to the groove 13, which is cut on the outside of the nut. The grooves in these two modifications reduce the stock of the body portion of the nut adjacent the inner ends of the slots 4 and will cause the locking segments 20 of the nut to operate with less pressure from the wrench, which will be referred to later.

In FIGURES 15 and 16 the nut is provided with two vertical slots 4 and 4' through each of the side face portions 1 of the nut and extending radially from the center of the bore. This has the same effect as described above for the grooves 13 and 17 but in a different manner. It allows for weakening and reduction in size of the locking sections or segments 2d of the nut by splitting each of the face areas 1 into three sections, comprising a center non-locking or fixed section 2" and two locking segments 2a on each side thereof.

It should be fully understood that the primary purpose of the spiral or angular corners of the locknuts shown as being approximately 6 to the longitudinal axis of the nuts shown throughout the drawings in the present application as applied to the various forms or designs of locknuts shown is to present a restricted nut corner edge or area at the upper end 1" of the spiral or angular corner edge of the nut to the wrench jaws. These leading upper corner edges 1 are provided for the nut whereby the jaws of the tightening wrench will initially contact these upper wrench contact edges or areas due to their being in an advanced angular wrench contact position in relation to the retarded position of the respective bottom or lower spiral corners of the nut when the wrench is being used to tighten a right hand threaded locknut of the present invention.

In view of the very limited area 1 of the nut that the faces of the wrench jaws contact, the usual wrenching pressure is stepped up several fold and more than it would be if these jaw faces contacted the whole area of the nut corners or the sides of the nut. This feature tends to give greater leverage and pressure for bending and moving the segments 2d to locked position "by a given wrenching action.

Thus when this intense pressure of the wrench jaws is applied to the upper corner areas 1" of the present improved locknut, there may be a tendency to upset 6 or rupture these corners to an undesirable extent. With this in mind these corners do not necessarily have to be sharp as shown but may be slightly round or blunted by a small fillet to reduce to a minimum this possible upsetting or rupturing of these wrench contacting corners or areas.

FIGURE 17 illustrates the operation of a wrench 10 having parallel jaws 10 and 10" in which the wrench when moved under sufficient pressure for a right handed thread, in the direction of the arrows, the jaws 10' and 10" contact initially the leading corners or upper edges 1" of the slotted area 2 of the nut as shown to put in operation of locking features of the nut, i.e. the slight upsetting of the locking segments 20 by wrench pressure causing the segments to engage the threads of the bolt under pressure and locked engagement.

In FIGURES 18 and 19 the number of vertical slots are the same as in FIGURES 15 and 16 except the slots 4 and 4 through a single face are parallel with each other and do not extend through the vertical axis of the central opening, and likewise extend across the upper surface of the nut as shown. This provides the same weakening effect to the locking sections as the slots hereinbefore described for the radial slots shown in FIGURES l5 and 16.

In FIGURES 20 and 21 the radial slots 4 are shown of greater width and have only one slot in each flat outer surface of the nut and are positioned perpendicular to to each of the flat sides or faces. However, the width of the slots may be varied to fit different circumstances, that is, to reduce the stock in the locking sections 20 of the upper portions 2 of the nut in order that the corner' locking sections may be more easily bent by the wrench.

In these the edges 1 are beveled or blunted in the section 2 of the nut as shown at 1a which will delay and prevent the initial contact of the wrench jaws with the lower corner or edge of the nut and allow for greater initial inward thrust and movement of the upper locking sections or portions 26 by the rotating pressure of the wrench.

The tapered bevel or blunted spiral corner portions 1a of FIGURES 20 and 21 not only serve in helping to concentrate the wrench pressure at the upper part of the spiral corner but also provide clearance for allowing a snug fitting type of box wrench to be readily slipped over the nut or disengaged therefrom without binding due to the spiral angle of the nut corners.

It is readily understood the tapered flat corner portions may be slightly curved by the use of a forming cutter being used in conjunction with the nut making machine with the radius of the curve being taken from the center or longitudinal axis of the nut.

In FIGURES 22 and 23 the slots 4 and 4' are still two to each flat outside surface or face except in this form the parallel slot extend across the nut one on each side of the upper corner portions or edges 1. The unslotted or lower portion 2 of the nut is of circular form, in which case the wrench will only engage the nut in the vicinity of the slotted area.

FIGURE 24 illustrates the manner in which the nut may be used on a bolt or stud on which the crest of the threads are partially removed. The bolt or stud 12 is shown with threads partially removed as indicated at 14. The nut N is screwed down on the bolt or stud 12 until it is in contact with the support 16. The use of the tightening wrench when the nut is tightened against the support 16 will cause the upper diametrically opposite segments 2c and their threads to be moved inwardly into the bottom of the roots of the bolt threads for producing a snug and tight engagement between the threads of the nut locking sections and the threads of the bolt as shown,

for making the nut tight on the threads of the bolt.

FIGURES 25 and 26 show a modified slotted form of spiral side wall and adjacent wall edges, these side wall edges are formed as to create edges having combined spiral and arcual shapes indicated at extending from the lower portion of the unslotted end of the nut to the top portion of the nut as shown.

FIGURES 27 and 28 show a slotted form of nut that is quite similar to that shown in FIGURES and 26 with the exception that the edges are made up of two sections as to shape, one section 21 is formed perpendicular to the lower end of the solid portion of the nut and the upper portion 21' is arcual and somewhat spiral and moves to the top portion of the nut as shown.

These are arcual or spiral edges whether they extend the full depth of the nut, or just through the slotted portion terminating at the upper end of the slotted portion at an angle of approximately six degrees from the longitudinal axis of the nut.

FIGURES 29 and 30 show a nut made from a straight sided flat faced hexagon bar after the bar has been given approximately a six degree twist. When a straight sided bar with flat faces is twisted or spiraled the flat sides or faces will tend to become slightly concave in form as shown at C in FIGURE 30.

The nut shown in FIGURES 31, 32 and 33 is quite similar to that shown in FIGURES 29 and 30 and are examples of nuts constructed of straight hexagon bars having flat wall faces, which have been subsequently twisted or spiraled. Nuts made from bars of this type and in this manner will have concave faces as shown.

FIGURES 31, 32 and 33 show a slight modification of the concaved sided nut shown in FIGURES 29 and 30, in which the concaved surfaces C terminate on each side as shown in panel like surfaces d and d positioned in parallel relation to the edges or corners 1' of the nut to strengthen these corners and to enable the wrench to contact a broader surface at these corners than it would if the concaved surface extended to the edges 1 of the nut. The panel surfaces d and d also give the Wrench a more positive and firmer grip on this form of the nut.

The concavity of the walls or faces of the nut as shown in FIGURES 31, 32 and 33 also provide means whereby all the wrench pressure in the nut tightening operation is exerted on and confined to the corner and panel area of the nut contacted by the wrench.

FIGURES 34, and 36 illustrate the use of the nut on a fiat sided bolt or stud as indicated by the numeral 25 having at least one flat side 25'. When the nut is tightened down on the support 26 the section of the nut Within the slotted area 2 is caused to move in toward the bolt 25, particularly the portion 2" will be moved farther inwardly than those corresponding parts that would engage the threads of the bolt, as shown in FIG- URE 35.

FIGURES 43 and 44 illustrate the threaded body portion of a bolt 36 having threads 31 and showing two areas 32 and 33 positioned at right angles to each other wherein the crest of the threads have been removed leaving the fiat areas of the threads as indicated at 34 and 35 respectively. The purpose of which is hereinbefore described for the flat bolt threads where the crest of the threads was removed for increasing the effectiveness of the locking function of the nut and to allow the crest of the threads of the locking segments of the nut to move into tight engagement with the root of the bolt threads in the areas 32 and 33 where the crest of the threads has been removed as indicated at 34 and 35 respectively. In this respect the relative locking function between the respective threads of the bolt and nut is similar to that shown in FIGURE 24.

The nut, as previously mentioned may be made in a number of ways, that is, by stamping, drop forging and particularly by extrusion, or rolling where it is desirable to make the nut from a twisted or spiraled hexagon bar such as shown in FIGURES 3740. The bars may be initially formed with straight convex sides as shown in FIGURES 39 and 40 or by extrusion as shown in FIG- 8 URES 37 and 38 wherein the bar has twisted fiat side walls. The bar may be formed with convex side walls or faces as shown in FIGURE 40 to compensate for the contraction of the side walls when twisted into spiral form.

When the rod is formed of straight flat sides or faces and twisted into spiral form, the straight flat sides or faces when the rod is twisted will become slightly concaved in cross-section. However, when the hexagon bar is provided with straight convex shaped side Walls or faces and the bar is twisted or spiraled as shown the side walls or faces will become fiat and not concave.

The same general locking operation shown in the several forms of the nut are substantially the same. The spiral edge of the intersecting flat outer surface has its upper or outer end 1 of the edge 1 in the slotted area of the nut angled at approximately six degrees from a line parallel with the axis of the nut.

The number, size and position of the slots are primarily for the purpose of determining the amount of stress placed on the nut for operating its self-locking feature.

The nut is designed to be locked to the bolt or stud by any conventional style straight parallel jaw wrench whether closed or open type, of course, for certain purposes, it may be more convenient to have a wrench with a special jaw particularly one that can be used either on portion 2 or 2' of the nut one at a time.

The improved self-locking nut is used like most any other standard type nut. The nut being formed with spiral side walls or faces and spiral wrench contacting side edges as shown and described. The 6 spiral or angular edges of the nut provide leading edges at the upper part of the nut for the engagement of the Wrench when it is desired to lock the nut to the threads of the bolt, screw or stud. The nut will generally run down on the thread easily until it comes in contact with the support 11 shown in FIGURE 8. When the nut comes in contact with the support 11 and its rotation is slowed and finally stopped, the jaws of the wrench will be engaged with the advanced point 1" of the spiral edge 1. The jaws of the wrench will press against these advanced points 1" of the edges 1' forcing the locking section or segment 2 positioned between slots 4 and 4' against the threads of the bolt and thus moving the portions 2 around and inwardly to engage the threads of the nut in locked relation with the threads of the bolt or stud. This action is particularly illustrated in fine dotted lines in FIGURE 13 by the numeral 3'.

In FIGURES 22 and 23, the bottom portion 2 of the nut is not formed to receive a parallel faced wrench, however, the top portions 2' are shaped to receive such a wrench and is adapted to be operated thereby. The top leading edges of the corners of the nut portions 1 are initially contacted by the wrench jaws to compress these portions inwardly in locking engagement with the bolt threads.

In the form of the nut shown in FIGURES 31, 32, 33 the spiral wall or the face portions 1 of the nut are slightly concaved. In this modification there is provided a narrow flat panel area d and d extending the full length and on each side of the spiral edges 1. The narrow panel areas on the respective spiral walls or sides give the jaws of the wrench a broader area upon which to operate and increases the strength of the nut at these spiral edge areas for this form of nut.

The spiral design of the nut also provides that when removing the nut the wrench jaws are out of contact with the leading spiral edge portion 1" of the edge 1', but is in contact with the opposite or lower portion of the edge 1 to release the nut without engaging the upper portion of the edge 1" in the slotted area of the nut.

However in this respect it may be readily seen when initially backing the present nut off from a locked position and it is desired to initially relieve the locking pres- 9 sure of the segment threads from the engaged threads of the bolt, the jaws of the wrench may be held high on the nut and in a way as to engage only the upper corner portions of the respective wrench engaging top corners of the locking segments.

The initial unscrewing high torque of the wrench on these upper segment corners will tend to untwist the segments and move them towards their original unlocked position and thereby relieve the interengaging pressure between the bolt andsegment threads, making it much easier to back the nut off and with less possibility of doing harm to the threads.

It is understood where the principal features and procedures of the invention, such as the spiral hexagon bars and spiral walls and edges of the nut and the wrench operation are identified with a left handed nut, these structural features and procedures are reversed, used and placed in an opposite position to that shown in the present drawings, that illustrate the invention as applied to right hand threaded nuts.

Referring to FIGURES 45 to 49 of the drawings the spiral hexagon bar 40 shown in FIGURE 45 has wall faces 41 formed into a spiral twist and having spiral edges 42 with a longitudinal center opening 43 for purposes of providing means from which the lock nut blank 44 may be formed as hereinbefore described for FIGURE 3 with the exception that in the present instance the preformed hole 43 in the blank 44 eliminates this step in the manufacturing process of making these nuts and speeds up production time. Where these spiral bars are formed by an extrusion process the center opening 43 of the bar may be formed in the bar at the time of extrusion economically and without loss of time in preparation for the tapping operation.

It should be understood that the various illustrations of the nut blanks such as those shown in FIGURES 3, 46 and 51 are not necessarily part of the actual steps in the making of the nut but primarily used to illustrate the invention.

In all other respects, structurally and functionally, the finished lock nut 45 and its tapped and threaded portion 49 shown in FIGURES 48 and 49 are similar to those shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawing.

The spiral edges 42 of the nut are approximately 6 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the nut and so positioned and directed in relation to the top and bottom of the nut as to form the leading upper edge portions 46 for initial engagement of a wrench when applied to the nut. The upper portion of the nut is provided with slots 47 forming nut locking sections 48 all as and for the purpose as hereinbefore described.

It is a further purpose of the present invention as to the feature relating to the longitudinal opening 43 as seen in FIGURE 45, to apply this feature to a conventional type of nut other than a lock nut with the same economic and time saving advantages. To this end this feature of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 50 to 54 of the drawings as applied to the making of a non-locking or conventional type of nut.

In this respect FIGURE 50 discloses a straight hexagon bar of metal 50 the faces 51 of which are substantially straight as shown and having a longitudinal opening 52 running throughout the length of the bar and positioned in the center thereof and having longitudinal edges 53 and may be formed by extrusion.

The nut blank 54, shown in FIGURES 51 and 52, which may be a section of the hexagon bar 50 and removed therefrom in a manner similar to the previously described nut blanks from their respective spiral bars.

In view of the blank 54 having the preformed opening 52 it is only necessary to tap or thread the blank as shown at 55 in FIGURES 53 and 54 showing the blank in the finished form of a nut at 56 and as readily seen, in view of the hereinbefore description, the preformed opening makes it unnecessary to drill the blank preparatory to the tapping operation.

Referring to FIGURES 55, 56 and 57 of the drawings in which an additional modified form of the invention is illustrated.

In the present instance, in view of this modification being shown as identified with a lock nut similar in structure to the nut shown in FIGURES 48 and 49 of the drawings, similar reference numerals of these figures will be applied to similar parts of the present modification.

The spiral or angular edges or corners 42 of the nut are each provided with valleys or concavities 42 at approximately their centers and being somewhat tapered on each end as to their converging upper and lower edges as shown. These valleys or concavities may readily be produced or turned by a forming tool.

These concavities provide more clearance between the nut and wrench and provide means whereby when a snug fitting box type of wrench is applied to the nut the same may more readily be moved without binding to the bottom portions of the corners 42 for the initial wrenching operation then readily moved without binding due to the angle of the edges 42, to the upper edges 42" of the locking segments 48 of the nut corners 46 for the final lock wrenching of the nut, by causing the locking sections or segments 48 to be moved tightly against the bolt threads in locked relation. This breakdown of the continuity of the edges 42 by the concavities 42 allows for greater concentration of wrench torque at either the upper or lower edge portions 42" and 42 of this type of lock nut.

It should be understood that where the terms spiral and angular are used descriptively in the specification as specifically identified with the present nut corner structure that these terms may be considered as. synonymous but not as applied to the spirals of the spiral bar from which certain of the present nuts are made. Particularly in view of the difference in the physical characteristics of the corners of the present nuts in this respect, being so minute in appearance as to be indistinguishable.

FIGURES 58 to 61 of the drawings illustrate still another form of modification of my lock nut invention.

The lock nut itself in this instance is similar in structure to the lock nut shown in FIGURES 48 and 49 with the feature of the present modification added thereto. In this respect it will therefore be understood similar reference numerals of these two figures will be applied to similar parts of the present modification.

Therefore, in FIGURES 58 to 61, I have shown my lock nut 45 having an integrally formed wrench positioning bottom flange or ring structure 60 with Wrench positioning shoulders 61 extending at and beyond the bottom of each of the flats of the lock nut 45 as shown in the various views. These shoulders form a positive rest and positioning means for the nut tightening wrench whereby the jaws 62 of the wrench 63 will be sure to contact the upper corners or edges 46 of the nut as shown particularly in FIGURES 60 and 61, and as indicated by arrows 64 in FIGURE 61, indicating the lines of torque of the wrench jaws 62 upon the high points or edges 46 of the nut for purposes of assuring the maximum leverage of the wrench at these points for forcing the threads of the segments 48 into locked position with the threads of a bolt or the like.

The underside 65 of the ring 60 may be provided with an integral annular work or surface contacting extension 66 as shown for purposes of giving a smoother turning action to the nut when under wrenching pressure.

In the movement of the segment threads to locking position they do not harm the bolt threads due to their forward tangential movement in relation to the bolt threads and conversely when being backed off or removed from the bolt after being in locked position they do not cut into or harm the bolt threads because they more or less have a dragging action in relation to the bolt threads.

The locking action of the segment threads may also be considered as a forward wedging action of one set of segment threads against a set of bolt threads.

The slots shown in the upper portion of the various forms of lock nuts as shown in the drawings are disclosed as being substantially perpendicular or at right angles to the plane of the top surface of the nut. In this respect it is understood in certain instances and where desirable that these slots may be angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the nut and where desirable may be parallel to the longitudinal angular corner edge of the lock nut.

Certain of the side walls of these angular slots also form the right and left side walls of each of the respective nut locking segments. Thus when these segments with the angular side walls are moved to the left by a wrenching action for tightening and locking the nut, the said right and left slot walls identified with that particular segment being wrenched will tend to straighten up due to the movement of the segment and will therefore give the nut a better appearance because the walls of the respective slots will assume a substantial vertical position when the nut or its locking segments are in a locked position.

The term flat has been used in certain instances in the specification and claims in its broad sense. However, it should be understood where the lock nut is made from a spiralled or twisted bar the plane of these flats may have a slight spiral or twist depending on the degree of the angular spiral or twist of the corner edge of the nut.

It should be understood the slots in the present lock nut may be spaced in a nonuniform manner about the top plane of the nut or be nonuniformly spaced in relation to the corners of the nut segments and may be greater or lesser in number to the number of flats in the nut.

As previously explained it is not the purpose of the present applicant to go into the intricate detailed explanation of the possible adaptation to any of the conventional or common practices of manufacturing nuts of the features of the present invention.

While the invention is illustrated in a number of forms, other similar forms may be possible by those familiar with the art, therefore the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-locking nut in which the nut is formed with a rigid integral body portion having a non-circular outer side and a central threaded opening for engaging an external threaded element in which the non-circular outer side is adapted to be engaged by a Wrench element having at least two opposite jaws in parallel planes, wherein:

(a) one end of the body portion of the nut is provided with substantially vertical lateral slots extending from the central threaded bore outwardly through the rigid body portion to the outer side surface thereof;

(b) the outer side surface of the nut being formed with a plurality of oppositely disposed substantially flat sides, substantially parallel with the axis of the central threaded opening and positioned at predetermined angles substantially transverse to the said axis and in which the planes of the adjacent sides intersect each other;

(c) the intersecting planes and the respective adjacent sides terminating in lined edges, the lined edges extending throughout the slotted and unslotted area of the nut, each lined edge of the nut extending at a slight angle from its end in the unslotted portion of the nut to its end in the slotted portion, the angle of each of the lined edges being substantially equal to each other and extending in the same direction as the direction of the thread; thereby allowing a wrench in a wrenching action to exert more initial pressure to at least one air of diametrically opposed edges of the flat surfaces of the slotted end of the nut in which the wrench jaws are initially in contact to move the contacted slotted portions of the nut in- 12 wardly and forwardly in relation to the central opening to lock the nut to the external threaded element when the nut is force wrenched to a substantially rigid support for the external threaded element.

2. A self-locking nut as claimed in claim 1 wherein each angle of each lined edge formed by the respective intersecting flat sides is approximately six degrees.

3. In a self-locking nut as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially flat side portions are slightly concaved.

4. In a self-locking nut as claimed in claim 3 wherein the concaved side surfaces of the nut adjacent the intersection of the two adjacent sides is provided with relatively narrow surfaces along each edge lying in a plane substantially parallel with a plane extending between adjacent edges.

5. A self-locking nut comprising a body portion having upper and lower faces and having a plurality of spaced flats and corners on its outer side surface and a centrally located threaded bore, the corners having the form of a predetermined longitudinal spiral in the same direction to that of the direction of the threads of the bore, the upper portion of the body being provided with a plurality of slots extending outwardly from the bore to and through the said flats and being open at said upper face, the spiral of the corners being adapted to form leading initial limited wrench contact areas at the upper portions of the corners and flat areas to move the contacted areas and slotted portions of the nut inwardly and forwardly in relation to the centrally located threaded bore, to lock the nut to an external threaded element when the nut is force wrenched to the external threaded element.

6. A self-locking nut as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spiral corners are at an angle of approximately 6 from the vertical for purposes of providing leading top corners for the initial contact of a wrench and to give maximum leverage to the wrench at its point of contact with the locking segment whereby a minimum of wrenching is required to bend the locking segment to a thread locking position.

7. A self-locking nut as claimed in claim 5 wherein the angular spiral corners are slightly blunted as to the portions of their length in the unslotted lower half of the nut for purposes of giving the angular corners more clearance for adaptation to free engagement with a snug fitting box type or the like wrench.

8. In a self-locking nut as claimed in claim 5 wherein the corners of the upper slotted portions of the nut are angular and the corners of the lower unslotted portions of the nut are vertical and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the nut for purposes of adapting the angular nut corners to free engagement with a snug fitting box type and the like wrench.

9. In a self-locking nut as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spiral corners and the flats are limited to the upper slotted portion of the nut with the lower unslotted portion of the nut being cylindrical.

10. In a self-locking nut as claimed in claim 5 wherein certain of said slots extend through the said flats in pairs and each of said pair converging toward the threaded bore to a common slot opening into the threaded bore.

11. A self-locking nut comprising a body portion having a plurality of spaced flats and corners on its outer side surface and a centrally located threaded bore, the corners having the form of a longitudinal spiral of a predetermined angle having a direction the same as that of the direction of the threads of the bore, the upper portion of the body being provided with a plurality of slots extending outwardly from the bore to and through the said flats, the spirals of the respective corners having a length substantially equal to the depth of the slots and being adapted to form leading initial limited wrench contact areas at the upper portions of the corners and flat areas, certain of said slots being positioned on each side of certain of said corners thereby forming corner segments between said slots, said segments providing self-locking means for the nut upon the application thereto of predetermined pressure by a normal wrenching operation.

12. A self-locking nut comprising a body portion having a plurality of spaced flats and corners comprising longitudinal angular edges, certain of said edges positioned for forming a pair of diametrically opposed wrench engaging edges on its outer side surface and a centrally located threaded bore, certain of the longitudinal angular edges of said corners being angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the nut in the same direction as that of the threads of the bore, the upper portion of the body being provided with a plurality of slots extending outward 1y from the bore to and through certain of said flats, the upper portions of the angularly disposed longitudinal edges providing means and being adapted for forming leading initial limited wrench contact areas at the said upper portions of the longitudinal edge structures and flat areas in juxta-position thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1947 France. '7/ 1902 Great Britain. 5/ 1942 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SELF-LOCKING NUT IN WHICH THE NUT IS FORMED WITH A RIGID INTEGRAL BODY PORTION HAVING A NON-CIRCULAR OUTER SIDE AND A CENTRAL THREADED OPENING FOR ENGAGING AN EXTERNAL THREADED ELEMENT IN WHICH THE NON-CIRCULAR OUTER SIDE IS ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A WRENCH ELEMENT OUTER AT LEAST TWO OPPOSITE JAWS IN PARALLEL PLANES, WHEREIN: (A) ONE-END OF THE BODY PORTION OF THE NUT IS PROVIDED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LATERAL SLOTS EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL THREADED BORE OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE RIGID BODY PORTION TO THE OUTER SIDE SURFACE THEREOF; (B) THE OUTER SIDE SURFACE OF THE NUT BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SIDES, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE AXIS OF THE CENTRAL THREADED OPENING AND POSITIONED AT PREDETERMINED ANGLES SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE SAID AXIS AND IN WHICH THE PLANES OF THE ADJACENT SIDES INTERSECT EACH OTHER; (C) THE INTERSECTING PLANES AND THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT SIDES TERMINATING IN LINED EDGES, THE LINED EDGES EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE SLOTTED AND UNSLOTTED AREA OF THE NUT, EACH LINED EDGE OF THE NUT EXTENDING AT A SLIGHT ANGLE FROM ITS END IN THE UNSLOTTED PORTION OF THE NUT TO ITS END IN THE SLOTTED PORTION, THE ANGLE OF EACH OF THE LINED EDGES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO EACH OTHER AND EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE DIRECTION OF THE THREAD; THEREBY ALLOWING A WRENCH IN A WRENCHING ACTION TO EXERT MORE INITIAL PRESSURE TO AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED EDGES OF THE FLAT SURFACES OF THE SLOTTED END OF THE NUT IN WHICH THE WRENCH JAWS ARE INITIALLY IN CONTACT TO MOVE THE CONTACTED SLOTTED PORTIONS OF THE NUT INWARDLY AND FORWARDLY IN RELATION TO THE CENTRAL OPENING TO LOCK THE NUT TO THE EXTERNAL THREADED ELEMENT WHEN THE NUT IS FORCE WRENCHED TO A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SUPPORT FOR THE EXTERNAL THREADED ELEMENT. 